Mirror Mirror

Upset at someone? Mad at someone? Somebody done somebody wrong? Somebody in sin? When this happens, Christians can be very quick to get upset and judge the person, especially if they are the hurt party. You hear criticism, sour grapes, or general grumbling. Yet the Bible says that when someone is caught in a sin, the ones who are spiritual are to use a spirit of gentleness while looking to themselves. Looking...to...themselves. Do you realize that you ALWAYS have a sin that you could look to. You may have the exact sin that you are upset about in the other person, or you may have a related sin, but you always have a sin to look to. The Bible says that if we say we have no sin, we are lying. When we look inward at our own sin while dealing with someone else's sin, it causes gentleness and understanding instead of blame. You realize that yes, they messed up and maybe they even hurt you, but you have your own issues where you do the same thing....or worse. It doesn't mean that I can't call them on their sin and call on them to renounce it. I'm supposed to, but I do it in such a way that I acknowledge my own sinful struggles. Maybe I'm mad because they hurt my feelings, but is my anger in danger of hurting theirs? Do I ever hurt people's feelings? Still need to talk to them, but I guess I don't belong on a judgemental high horse. Who do you want to talk about: What they did? Or what your response to them was. Are you a martyr, bearing up under their terrible sin or assault? Or are you looking in the mirror, focusing on you, and looking to how you are doing so that you may respond to them in a spirit of gentleness and humility, no matter what they are doing or saying?